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GOP files slew of healthcare amendments to trade deal
Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee have filed a slew of amendments to the Korea free-trade agreement that would repeal pieces of the healthcare reform law.
Sen. Orrin Hatch (Utah), the committee's top Republican, has filed amendments to repeal the healthcare law's tax on medical devices, its employer mandate and a provision that bars states from cutting Medicaid eligibility.
Hatch has sponsored a stand-alone bill on the Medicaid changes, as well as a separate bill to repeal limits on the use of health savings accounts. He also filed that policy as an amendment to the trade agreement.
Another Hatch amendment would bar any facility that provides abortions from receiving Medicaid funds. NARAL Pro-Choice America blasted the proposal ahead of a scheduled markup on the trade agreement.
An amendment from Sen. Chuck Grassley would sunset the controversial Independent Payment Advisory Board — a cost-cutting panel that has emerged as the focal point of Republican attacks on the new healthcare law.
Other GOP amendments to the trade deal would address accountable care organizations, Medicare Advantage, home health care, Medicare and general implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
A spokesman for the committee's Republicans was not immediately available to comment on the process for offering and debating amendments to the trade agreement. The Finance Committee has scheduled a "mock markup" for 3 p.m.
